John Yang:
The intense focus on President Trump’s handling of the files from the Jeffrey Epstein criminal investigation has renewed attention on the problem of sex trafficking in the United States and around the world. 25 years ago, Congress mandated that the State Department have an office tracking the scope of human trafficking and working to combat it.
According to that office, of the 25 million-plus victims globally in 2023, just 134,000 victims worldwide. That led to more than 18,000 prosecutions. Last week, the Trump administration drastically cut that office’s staff. Here’s how the deputy secretary of state for management and resources explained the decision.
Michael Rigas, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State: For too long, single-issue offices have mushroomed in number and influence, often distorting our foreign policy objectives to serve their specific interests, slowing down the department’s ability to function.
